Mining machine



s. RIMMER MINING MACHINE March 13, 1923.

Filed Dec. 9. 1926 w 3 Go'ZMrZ Him/mar. 37/444 4' any.

Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

GILBERT RIMMER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ,ASSIGNOIR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERYCOMPANY, or, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

M NIN MACHINE.

Application filed December 9, 1926, Serial No.

- Thisinvention relates to mining machines, such as coal-cuttingmachines, particularly of the jib-and-chain type in which an endlesschain carrying picks or cutting tools is 5 mounted to travel round themargin of a pivoted jib. The invention is however also applicable tomining machines-[of the disc type in which the cutting tools are carriedat the circumference of a rotatable disc.

In the operation of a machine of either of the above types the cuttingtools remove a large proportion (upwards of 60%) of the cuttings fromthe cut or holing and consequently when a horizontal out has been madethere is a tendency for the roofto sink down on to the floor and closethe gap'made by the passage of the machine. In some circumstances theuncontrolled collapse of the roof is undesirable and it is the object ofthis invention to provide means for ensuring against the sinking of theroof after a cutting operation.

In accordance with this invention there is provided in a mining machineof the jib-andchain type or of the disc type means for re.- turn'ing thecuttings, or a substantial proportion of the cuttings, removed from thecut or holing at the leading face of the jib or disc into the cut inrear of the following face of the jib or disc. The cuttings which arereturned into the cut provide a support for the roof and prevent itcollapsing completely on to the floor.

In one form the invention vprovides a guide-wall to extend round theheel of the jib or a portion of the disc and thereby form a compartmentarranged at one end to receive the cuttings removed at the leading faceof the machine and at the other end to direct said cuttings back intothe cut or holing;

According to a feature of the invention the aforesaid guide-wall isprovided at one or at each end with an adjustable extension piece bymeans of which the effective length of the wall may be varied.

An exampleof the invention as applied to a coal-cutting machine of thejib-andchain type will now bedescribed with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view (to some extent158,676, and in Great Britain August 6, 1926. I

diagrammatic) illustrating the machine in operation;

F igure 2 is an elevation (partly in section at the line 22, Figure 8)showing the 5 guide-plate attachment at the jib end of'the machine, andv I Figure 3 is a plan view of the attachment shown in Figure 2. I Y

Like reference numeralsindicate like parts throughout the figures. 1

The attachmen't provided by the invention comprises a curved guide-plate5 which is secured to the machine frame 6, at the jib end thereof. Theplate 5 is of approxi-- mately semi-circular shape and is arranged tosurround the cutter-chain 7 where the lat- 7 'ter'passesroundthesprocket (not shown) the inner end of the jiband back into the out. Thecutter-chain 7 acts like a conveyor. to move the cuttings through theenclosure aforesaid. i The upper portion of the guide-plate 5 isattached by rivets 9 to the vertical flange of'a right-angled bracket10, the horizontal flange of which is bolted to the machine frame 6. Inthe machine illustrated, which is a typical example of the jib-and-chaintype, the jib 7 may be locked in any one of three alternative positions(i. e. in line with the longitudinal axis of the machine, or at rightangles thereto on the right or left of the machine) by the insertion ofa locking pin in one of three holes 11, 1 2,13 provided in the jib endof the machine frame. In the position which the jib occupies in Figures1 and 2 of the drawings, the locking-pin (not shown) is inserted in thehole 11. The

two locking-pin holes 12 and 13 which are not required for the purposeof locating the jib are employed to receive bolts l i for securing thehorizontal flange of the bracket 10 to the underside of the, machineframe 6. In the illustrated examplefthe locking-pin holes are of largerdiameter'than the bolts 14, and in orderto locate the bolts centrally intheholes, bushings- 15 are employed.

It will be understood that if the jib is to the holes 11 and 12 would beused for secuiw ing the guide-plate attachment.

The guide-plate 5 is provided at each end" with an adjustableextension-piece 16 for the purpose'of varying the effective length ofthe plate and so varying the'control imposed by the plate on thecuttings. The extension piece 16, which is a plate having the sameradius of curvature as the main guide-plate 5, is mounted to slide onthe outer face of thelatter. The extension-piece 16 islocated on themain plate 5 by means of rivets 17, the stem portions of which passthrough an elongated slot 18 in the extension-piece.

The slot 18 accommodates sliding move ment of the extension-piece in thedirection of the length of the main plate 5, and the extension-piece maybe locked in any desired position of adjustment by means of a taperedpin 19 or like device inserted through one of a series of apertures 20in the extensionpiece and through registering apertures in the plate 5and the vertical flange of the bracket 10. In practice it may bedesirable to allow a small proportion of the cuttings to escape at oneor each end of the guidewall, and the necessary provision for this ismade by the adjustable extension-pieces 16. In Figure 3, one of theseextensionpieces is shown in section, for the sake of clearness.

While I have in this application specifically described one form whichmy invention may assumein practice, it will be understood that this formof the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the inventionmay be modified and embodied in various other forms without departingfrom its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. In a mining machine of the type whose frame is slidable upon itsbottom upon a mine bottom during cutting, a bottom engaging frame, amotor thereon, cutting mechanism actuated by said motor including acutting member of the jib and chain type adapted to cut a horizontalkerf in the mine wall, and a guide wall supported on said frame andextending around the heel of the jib and forming a compartmentarrangedat one end to receive the cuttings removed at theleading face ofthe jib and at the other end to direct said cuttings back into the kerfin rear of the following face of the .jib.

2. In a mining machine the combination of a cutting member of the jiband chain type, a uide wall extending round the heel of the jib andforming a compartment arranged at one end to receive the cuttingsremoved at the leading face of the jib and at the other end to directsaid cuttings back into the kerf in rear of the following face of thejib, and means for var ing the effective length of the guide wall aoresaid.

3. In a mining machine the combination of a cutting member of the jiband chain type, a guide wall extending round the heel of the jibandforming a compartment arranged at one end to receive the cuttingsremoved atthe leading face of the jib and at the other end to directsaid cuttings back:

into the kerf, and an adjustable extension piece mounted at eachendofthe guide wall aforesaid and movable to vary the effective lengthof said wall.

1. In a mining machine of the type Whose frame is slidable upon itsbottom upon the mine bottom during cuttin a bottom engaging frame, amotor thereon, cutting mechanism actuated by the motor including acutting member which in operation removes the cuttings from the kerf atthe leading face of said member, and a guide wall supported on saidframe and extending around a portion of the cutting member aforesaid andforming a compartment arranged at one end to receive cuttings removed asaforesaid at the leadingface of the member and at the other end todirect said cuttings back into the kerf. l a

5. In a mining machine of thetype whose frame is slidable on its bottomon the mine floor, the combination with a floor engaging frame, a motorthereon, and cutting mechanism actuated by said motor and including ahorizontal cutter bar supported on said frame and adapted to cut ahorizontal kerf in the mine wall and which in operation removes cuttingsfrom the kerf at the leading face of said bar, of means for receivingcuttings brought back from the kerf by said cutter bar and returning thesame into the kerf in rear of the following face of said cutter bar. a

6. I11 a mining lIltLChlDGOf the type whose frame is slidable on itsbottom on the mine floor, the combination with a floor engaging frame, amotor thereon, and cutting mechanism actuated by said motor andincluding a horizontal cutter bar pivotally supported on said frame forhorizontal swinging movement relative thereto and adapted to cut ahorizontal kerf in the mine wall and which in operation removes cuttingsfrom the kerf at the leading face of said bar, of means for receivingcuttingsbrought back from the kerf bycsaid cutter bar and returning thefloor, the combination With a floor engaging a substantially horizontalkerf in the mine frame, a motor thereon, and cutting mecha- Wall, andmeans on said frame for receiving nism actuated by said motor andincluding a the cuttings brought back from the kerf by 10 cutter chaincarrying cutter bar pivotally the cutter chain and returning saidcuttings mounted on said frame for horizontal sWinginto the kerf as themachine advancesr ing movement relative thereto and adapted r Intestimony whereof I affix my signature. upon bodily movement of saidframe to cut GILBERT RIMMER.

